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joshkiba13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a unique one for sure in terms of style. No chapters or breaks, just a nearly 400 page monologue-confession. This means we are locked in to Dolores and her personality right away. And it ended with a sfylistic device King uses from time to time with excerpts from fictional articles and journals, which I always like.
I loved Vera Donovan's character and how the book started with Dolores's story of the three ways Vera could be a bitch. Setting her up that way and then having her be such a vital piece in Dolores's life and choices was great.
King does great making us love to hate some characters and just flat out hate others. The development builds over time and eventually gets our stomachs turning and blood boiling. We really start to root for our mama bear protagonist.
It really feels like a person telling a story, since it jumps around time-wise and is filled with rambles, Maine slang, and such. Several of her phrases made me smile while reading.
Some of my favorite parts were the little touches of horror, like Vera's hallucinations of dust bunnies and wires, and Dolores's subsequent nightmares. Perhaps I need to read a true King horror like The Shining . . .
Overall it was an intriguing read that came to surprise me at the end. Stellar character development and a unique style.
". . .the love a natural mother feels for her children [is] the strongest love there is in the world, and it's the deadliest. There's no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids . . . In the end, it's the bitches of the world who abide."
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Child death
jlothian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Bullying, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Blood, Excrement, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
kreglow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
a_novel_craving's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Incest, Murder, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse
brooke_jd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Murder, Violence, and Sexual harassment
2lava2lantula's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, Dementia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Incest
lolra's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
anticapitalist_2000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief
mithy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Incest, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse